Home stretch

Only two papers separate me from graduation! One is due tomorrow, the other is due Tuesday. Both topics are interesting (Climate change, coca, alternative development and security in Colombia, and Property Rights and Environmental Justice In Tension), but I'm ready to write for a more concrete purpose rather than a grade and for the inherent value of research/writing. The most fascinating topic still serves to address a prompt, not a long-term goal or project. I'm ready for the latter. :-)

Post paper deadlines, Ed and I will spend a few days in Seattle to attend our friends' wedding and for Ed to interview with a couple P&O clinics. I'm looking forward to some PNW time!

It is pretty amazing to think about graduation and reflect on the incredible opportunities I've had here at Michigan. I don't think I knew what to expect when I started these programs. Even if I had, I would have underestimated the life experiences provided by my courses. And I would have underestimated the university's ability to attract a graduation speaker. On May 1st I'll be sitting in the Big House, wearing teal (and russet brown), listening to Barack Obama address the class of 2010. Not bad. :-)

The sun is shining, the snow is melting, and I haven't seen an undergraduate in Uggs in over three days...so happy! Spring(ish?) break is off to a great start. Got the cooking bug out of my system on Monday. Ed came over after I spent a day making split pea soup, cheddar dinner rolls, turkey chili, sweet potato fries, and a salad (and actually kept up with the dishes for once). Yesterday included coffee with Emily, a friend from Environmental Justice and quite a bit of reading and cleaning. I hope to get ahead in my class reading/assignments and create buffer for the remainder of the semester.

In other news, the job hunt seems to steal hours out of my day! I'll find one, maybe two jobs, and realize that over an hour has flown by. At least I have a couple applications out there. Still waiting to hear back.

P.S. It finally thawed enough to go running! Pretty excited about this. :-)

And I'm back!

Back to blogging...back from South Africa...back from the Pacific Northwest...back in class...you name it! Certainly not back in shape, but have started to work on this problem. :-) It would be useful to know where I'll be living in a couple months so I could sign up for a 10k. I'll settle for a MI 5k for now...I know I'll be here until May 1st (graduation day!!!).

Let's see...seems like there was something to write about. ;-) oh yeah! I had a lovely and pretty eventful Christmas at home. Food, family, surprise visitors on Christmas day with engagement rings...pretty crazy, huh? To answer some FAQs:
* yes, I said yes
* no, we do not have a date. Tentatively spring/summer 2011
* yes, I am focused entirely on being a graduate student right now, so no, I do not have colors (or really anything at all) picked out
* kind of have a location selected. Actually, we've whittled it down from two countries to two states (OR and WA, of course!)

In other news...I left for South Africa on January 7th? 8th? It took a couple tries to fly out, but finally arrived in sunny, lovely Cape Town! (did I mention it was summer? and warm?!) A handful of classmates and I were teaching assistants for University of Michigan and University of Cape Town professors. The course targeted social science researchers and students from southern Africa and focused on how to use STATA (statistical software) to address social science questions. Pretty amazing experience...we had ~70 students from a range of backgrounds (nationality, race, job, familiarity with statistics). Although we spent a good deal of time in the classroom, trouble shooting and answering questions, there was plenty of down time. A group of us climbed Lion's Head and Table Mountain (Skeleton Gorge route), which brought back wonderful memories of my 2005 trip to Cape Town. The Kirstenbosch Gardens were even more amazing than I remembered... it was incredible to hear one of my favorite bands performing live in this magnificent venue.

After South Africa, I returned to the states. Due to a standardized test I had to take, I was able to fly to Seattle. For future reference, no one should have to be airborne for more than 24 hours in one day. The flight took me from Cape Town to Amsterdam to Detroit and onto Seattle. The Detroit layover was particularly strange, and part of me wanted to simply give up and take a taxi to my Ann Arbor apartment. Good thing I didn't, as Chelsey and Doug greeted me at the SeaTac airport! It was so incredible to spend time with them and to catch up! ;-) The Seattle trip also gave me the opportunity to have a wonderful dinner with my cousin Erica, her husband Steve and their daughter Kaisa. One day I'll learn how to cook like you guys!

After taking the standardized test at UW, I jumped on a train and headed home to Hockinson! Time flew by, and I enjoyed hanging out with my folks (especially on Mom's birthday). :-) Also got to see Lynnette, Norah, Jamie, Galen and Kaylee. I can't believe how quickly Ms. Norah and Ms. Kaylee are growing! Pretty amazing. :-)

Did I mention I'm enrolled in classes this term? Thank goodness for understanding professors...and a beautifully light course load. After last term, I decided to take a realistic number of courses and focus my energy on job hunts. There are (sadly) no updates on this front. I'll keep you posted. And if you hear about environmental policy or international development (or even domestic non-urban development) jobs, keep me in mind!

Will write more later!

Man, I could really use one day off. Just one day to not read, to enjoy the autumn weather and let my eyes rest.

What a great weekend! It started off with the Carolina Chocolate Drops concert at The Ark. African American string bands have never sounded so amazing...that was probably the most fun concert I've ever been to. No songs that you just sit through, no wondering if they'll stop for a bit so you can get some water...every time the audience thought it knew what would come next, the Carolina Chocolate Drops changed it up and surprised all of us! Best part...the artists seemed like they were having a blast.

Yesterday was all about the Saturday Farmer's Market and getting some work taken care of. And fighting off this head cold that has been making things uncomfortable for a couple days. Although the cold was a bit better today, it still made the Big House Big Heart 5k pretty tough, nor did the asthma. Still...had a great time (hope Ed did to0!) and signed up for the Holiday Hustle in December.

On top of coursework and the 5k, Ed and I also went to the Michigan hockey game. Had a great time watching the Wolverines handily beat the University of Windsor team. Now, to spend the rest of the night getting back to work. :-)

Maryland and West Virginia

Takin' off for West Virginia tomorrow! It'll be exciting to meet the other Doris Duke Conservation types (and Wyss fellows) and talk about environmental issues (and generally get to know one another). I am not generally a fan of networking functions, but this one sounds pretty unique and exciting. Adventures include lectures on Wildlife Conservation and Global Climate Change, leadership seminar, a trip to Antietam, hiking, and somehow fitting schoolwork into this picture. I've certainly enjoyed my time with the UM people who are going on this trip...since we were selected using the same criteria, I can only imagine that this weekend will be more of the fun-filled conservation-y same!

GO DAWGS! Especially proud to wear the purple and gold today. :-D